David Bergman, Author Of ‘Sustainable Design: A Critical Guide,’ Shares Photos And Wisdom

Very interesting article, thanks David! I hope that Spain will move fast from its period of “Green Design as Unusual” to “Green Design as Usual” and even to “Design as Usual”.

I think we’re going through an adoption period in which we started building in the mid-twentieth century without environmental considerations because, well, we could due to advances like air conditioning in combination with underpriced energy. Then we entered a period I’ve called “Green Design as Unusual” where we experimented with things ranging from solar panels to Earthship houses made of old tires.

I think we’re now in what I’m labeling the “Green Design as Usual” period in which we’re beginning to see ecodesign become an expected part of any design. And my prediction is the next phase will be simply “Design as Usual” in the sense that environmental considerations will become as integral to design as, say, structure or circulation.